Posted on Sep 16, 2015
Ahmed Mohamed, 14, arrested over clock mistaken for bomb. Reasonable precaution or massive overreaction?
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What do you guys think? I can understand their initial reaction, however had this been someone else? Would the reaction be the same? Race card aside, it was handled pretty inappropriately as well. The situation could and should have been assessed on the spot especially since the engineering teacher already had knowledge.
Terrorism
Political Correctness
Law Enforcement
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 100
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""This wouldn't even be a question if his name wasn't Ahmed Mohamed. He is an excited kid who is very bright and wants to share it with his teachers."....I want to say and believe this isn't true, but inside I think it was a factor. I just hope that this unfortunate event does nothing to stop this child from his desire to learn. He is what America needs for the future; dreamers who can make those dreams reality.
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TSgt Kenneth Ellis
Lt Col (Join to see) - If that is what you think. You are welcome to your opinion. But under Obama I'm a racist and a biggit and homophob because I'm white, Christain and believe in traditional marriage.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
You are if you seek to use those things as weapons against others who are not white, male, or straight. You believe in traditional marriage. Great. Get married to a woman. Encourage your kids to do the same. But you don't get to tell everyone in America that they must act in accordance with your beliefs.
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SrA Edward Vong - Airman; Let's see now:
[1] Really bright kid is interested in electronics and makes a digital clock.
[2] Really bright kid is proud of his achievement and takes the clock to school to show to a teacher.
[3] A teacher who is not involved thinks "Muslim + wiring = !!B!!O!!M!!B!!" and calls the cops.
[4] Cops arrive, think "Muslim + wiring = !!B!!O!!M!!B!!" and lock the kid up without asking anyone any questions whatsoever.
[5] Everyone congratulates themselves on how much safer they have made America by deterring terrorist attacks.
[6] No one apologizes to the really bright kid and he forms the "completely unjustified" idea that people hate Muslims.
Nope, nothing wrong here folks, move along, nothing to see, move along.
[1] Really bright kid is interested in electronics and makes a digital clock.
[2] Really bright kid is proud of his achievement and takes the clock to school to show to a teacher.
[3] A teacher who is not involved thinks "Muslim + wiring = !!B!!O!!M!!B!!" and calls the cops.
[4] Cops arrive, think "Muslim + wiring = !!B!!O!!M!!B!!" and lock the kid up without asking anyone any questions whatsoever.
[5] Everyone congratulates themselves on how much safer they have made America by deterring terrorist attacks.
[6] No one apologizes to the really bright kid and he forms the "completely unjustified" idea that people hate Muslims.
Nope, nothing wrong here folks, move along, nothing to see, move along.
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PO2 Mark Saffell
COL Ted Mc The following are excerpts and information I have read about the story.
Ahmed took a store-bought alarm clock out of its case and installed it in a pencil box. Not just any pencil box, but a metal one, that resembled a small briefcase. Once this extraordinarily technical use of a Phillips-head screwdriver was accomplished, the device very closely resembled the type of briefcase bomb / timer seen in the movies and on TV.
Ahmed clearly knew what the device looked like when he took it to school and if there was any doubt his first period teacher, according to Ahmed's own account, told him not to show it to anyone else because it LOOKED LIKE A BOMB.
Now there is ZERO legitimate reason for a kid to take the guts of an alarm clock and put them im a pencil box to look like a time bomb, other than to LOOK LIKE A BOMB. It was not an "invention" it was not a "science project" it was not intended to "impress his teachers" with this electronics skills (no electronic skill are involved in mounting a caseless alarm clock into a pencil box, just screw-driving skills).
So only one possibility remains. Ahmed KNEW the device looked like a bomb, Ahmed INTENDED the device to look like a bomb, and Ahmed intended to alarm his teachers and fellow students. That is a childish prank, but is also a crime in Texas. Ahmed was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing a hoax bomb which is exactly what the kid did. No "islamaphobia. No "racism". No "profiling". Just a bad kid who went too far and got caught, and then, strangely enough, richly rewarded for it with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes and a celebrity world tour. Poor, poor, traumatized little Ahmed....
Ahmed took a store-bought alarm clock out of its case and installed it in a pencil box. Not just any pencil box, but a metal one, that resembled a small briefcase. Once this extraordinarily technical use of a Phillips-head screwdriver was accomplished, the device very closely resembled the type of briefcase bomb / timer seen in the movies and on TV.
Ahmed clearly knew what the device looked like when he took it to school and if there was any doubt his first period teacher, according to Ahmed's own account, told him not to show it to anyone else because it LOOKED LIKE A BOMB.
Now there is ZERO legitimate reason for a kid to take the guts of an alarm clock and put them im a pencil box to look like a time bomb, other than to LOOK LIKE A BOMB. It was not an "invention" it was not a "science project" it was not intended to "impress his teachers" with this electronics skills (no electronic skill are involved in mounting a caseless alarm clock into a pencil box, just screw-driving skills).
So only one possibility remains. Ahmed KNEW the device looked like a bomb, Ahmed INTENDED the device to look like a bomb, and Ahmed intended to alarm his teachers and fellow students. That is a childish prank, but is also a crime in Texas. Ahmed was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing a hoax bomb which is exactly what the kid did. No "islamaphobia. No "racism". No "profiling". Just a bad kid who went too far and got caught, and then, strangely enough, richly rewarded for it with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes and a celebrity world tour. Poor, poor, traumatized little Ahmed....
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COL Ted Mc
PO2 Mark Saffell - PO; I'll agree with you that there are TWO issues here:
[1] What was the device and why did the lad make it; and
[2] What did the school do about the device once they had it in their hands.
It's just barely possible that the boy found a perfectly functional 1970s clock, disassembled it, and stuck it inside a new case. Its also possible that the boy found a NON-functional 1970s clock, figured out why it wasn't working, repaired it, and stuck it inside a new case. That one is going to have to wait for the trial to get sorted out.
As to why the boy showed the device around after being told not to do so - I don't know. But I do know that 14 year-olds do dumb things - it's in their job description.
As for the second issue, I think that the consensuses is that the school (and the police) screwed up big time and that under the legal doctrine of "Profunda Loculos" they (well, actually, their insurers [OK, so the entirety of their insurers client base {OK, OK, OK, so actually everyone who buys any sort of insurance whatsoever}]) will simply have to pay up.
[1] What was the device and why did the lad make it; and
[2] What did the school do about the device once they had it in their hands.
It's just barely possible that the boy found a perfectly functional 1970s clock, disassembled it, and stuck it inside a new case. Its also possible that the boy found a NON-functional 1970s clock, figured out why it wasn't working, repaired it, and stuck it inside a new case. That one is going to have to wait for the trial to get sorted out.
As to why the boy showed the device around after being told not to do so - I don't know. But I do know that 14 year-olds do dumb things - it's in their job description.
As for the second issue, I think that the consensuses is that the school (and the police) screwed up big time and that under the legal doctrine of "Profunda Loculos" they (well, actually, their insurers [OK, so the entirety of their insurers client base {OK, OK, OK, so actually everyone who buys any sort of insurance whatsoever}]) will simply have to pay up.
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PO2 Mark Saffell
Part that worries me about paying up...Will we be directly funding terrorism now that his family has moved back to Qatar and there has been some reports as to their, lets say political leanings?
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COL Ted Mc
PO2 Mark Saffell - PO; Have no fear, the Qataris are America's friends.
Indeed, the boy's father actually supported democratic government for the Sudan and is a Sufi.
Both of those are highly suspicious traits.
Indeed, the boy's father actually supported democratic government for the Sudan and is a Sufi.
Both of those are highly suspicious traits.
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For all those with their heads in the sand who don't think this happened because this kid's name was Ahmed Mohammed, I give you this article:
http://gawker.com/7-kids-not-named-mohamed-who-brought-homemade-clocks-to [login to see] ?rev= [login to see] 94&utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
http://gawker.com/7-kids-not-named-mohamed-who-brought-homemade-clocks-to [login to see] ?rev= [login to see] 94&utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
7 Kids Not Named Mohamed Who Brought Homemade Clocks to School And Didn't Get Arrested
Hoping to impress the teachers at his new school, an Irving, Texas, high school freshman named Ahmed Mohamed brought a homemade clock with him to MacArthur High Monday morning, which he’d assembled before bed the night before. When he showed it to those teachers, though, they were something other than impressed, and by Monday afternoon, Mohamed was being led out of school in handcuffs. Ahmed’s English teacher believed the device was a bomb.
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SPC David Hannaman
None of the kids mentioned in the article are in Texas either. It's a different mentality, but we look for opportunities to stop bad situations sooner rather than later.
Some people might see that as paranoia... we see the other states as lackadaisical.
Some people might see that as paranoia... we see the other states as lackadaisical.
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PV2 Scott Goodpasture
And I wore a watch to tell time. Those kids with those experiments using vegetables for batteries, water.... were all assigned projects. Do You understand that? There was no science project for this little jerk and his clock. if there was he would have failed. putting the guts of a clock into a pencil box.... stupid
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PO2 Mark Saffell
Soooo All the people slamming the school, lets reverse things. What if it was a bomb and the school did nothing and 200 kids where blown apart. What would you say about the school now and to those kids parents? Would you tell those parents those 200 kids lives are a price we pay to be free and PC?
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At a time when we're trying to persuade the Muslim world that we are not their enemy, that our policies aren't driven by anti-Muslim bias, we are racially profiling Muslim children as bomb-wielding terrorists. We are seemingly confirming the Muslim world's worst fears about us — and giving ammunition to those who argue that America is deeply hostile to Muslims.
2) At a time when the World Economic Forum ranks America as 48th in the quality of its math and science education and the Organization for Economic Development ranks American students as 27th in math and 20th in science, we're arresting a child who wears NASA shirts and builds machines in his spare time — and we're doing it because the education professionals charged with guiding his development can't tell the difference between a clock and a bomb.
3) At a time when we desperately need the world's most talented immigrants to come to the US and build the industries of the future, we're sending a message that immigrant families like Mohamed's will be treated with suspicion and, at times, outright racism.
4) But the most heartbreaking part of the picture isn't about national policy or international headlines. It's the look on Mohamed's face. America was supposed to be better than this. But on Monday, his school and his local police force — both of them public institutions that his family's tax dollars support — failed him in a terrible, traumatic way.
http://www.vox.com/2015/9/16/9337053/Ahmed-Mohamed-school-arrest
2) At a time when the World Economic Forum ranks America as 48th in the quality of its math and science education and the Organization for Economic Development ranks American students as 27th in math and 20th in science, we're arresting a child who wears NASA shirts and builds machines in his spare time — and we're doing it because the education professionals charged with guiding his development can't tell the difference between a clock and a bomb.
3) At a time when we desperately need the world's most talented immigrants to come to the US and build the industries of the future, we're sending a message that immigrant families like Mohamed's will be treated with suspicion and, at times, outright racism.
4) But the most heartbreaking part of the picture isn't about national policy or international headlines. It's the look on Mohamed's face. America was supposed to be better than this. But on Monday, his school and his local police force — both of them public institutions that his family's tax dollars support — failed him in a terrible, traumatic way.
http://www.vox.com/2015/9/16/9337053/Ahmed-Mohamed-school-arrest
This heartbreaking photo drives home why Ahmed Mohamed's arrest was such a travesty
Let’s count the ways Ahmed Mohamed’s arrest was a horrible mistake.
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SGM Erik Marquez
"we are racially profiling Muslim children as bomb-wielding terrorists."
No Sir, "WE" are not... You may be, the LEO and principle in this article may have been. But DO NOT lump ME, in your we....nor do I agree that WE are doing as you suggest.
No more than WE are raping children, WE are robbing banks, WE are murdering police officers... We are not, some are... big difference.
No Sir, "WE" are not... You may be, the LEO and principle in this article may have been. But DO NOT lump ME, in your we....nor do I agree that WE are doing as you suggest.
No more than WE are raping children, WE are robbing banks, WE are murdering police officers... We are not, some are... big difference.
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1SG VonErick Trim
There are those in this country, that are not trying to persuade anyone to do anything. Who's fault is it that this happened at all?? HIS! He was smart enough to make it. He knew what he was doing. Let him deal with the consequences!
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SrA Edward Vong Thank you for posting this. There is a different issue here than the one being seen i.e. his race. The issue is about preserving his rights as a juvenile. First the Arab Islamic Committee shouldn't be using this 14 year old boy as a way to further their agenda. Second it doesn't state if the boy's parents were notified prior to the beginning of questioning and or if they were present at all. Were his rights as a juvenile violated? On the part of the school they are responsible for ensuring the safety of all the students who attend the school there might have been overreaction but I'm sure the intent was not directed at him because of his race.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
He was questioned for several hours without his parents or an attorney, in violation of Texas state law.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/16/police-violated-ahmed-mohamed-s-civil-rights-by-keeping-away-his-parents.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/16/police-violated-ahmed-mohamed-s-civil-rights-by-keeping-away-his-parents.html
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SrA Edward Vong Yeah, this was pretty retarded. That kid's about as dangerous as a kitten. Heads are going to (and should) roll over this.
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COL Ted Mc
CPT(P) David Thorp - Lieutenant; In some areas (and to some people) the " + clock " is optional.
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It probably would. No organics, and it's searchable.
It's actually a lot simpler than laptops, cell phones, and tablets.
It's actually a lot simpler than laptops, cell phones, and tablets.
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CW4 Guy Butler
Hmmm.... Good point. Let's see now...
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/clocks-watches/digital-clock3.htm
We're doomed.
And I've been through IED training. Last I checked, not currently deployed.
Oh, and my daughter's trying to design a killer robot. My fault - hooked her on "BattleBots". Lord knows what Texas would do with that.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/clocks-watches/digital-clock3.htm
We're doomed.
And I've been through IED training. Last I checked, not currently deployed.
Oh, and my daughter's trying to design a killer robot. My fault - hooked her on "BattleBots". Lord knows what Texas would do with that.
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COL Ted Mc
Sgt Richard Buckner - Sergeant; You have some extremely good points.
There should be an immediate ban on bringing any "wireless" electronic device into any public place since that device might be the detonator for a bomb.
Not only that but all clocks (even mechanical ones) have to be outlawed immediately as they could be used as the timer for the detonator for a bomb.
In fact, anyone who has a copy of TM 31-200-1 (or its later replacements) should be sent to a secure detention facility immediately since they might be planning on using their knowledge to construct a bomb.
There should be an immediate ban on bringing any "wireless" electronic device into any public place since that device might be the detonator for a bomb.
Not only that but all clocks (even mechanical ones) have to be outlawed immediately as they could be used as the timer for the detonator for a bomb.
In fact, anyone who has a copy of TM 31-200-1 (or its later replacements) should be sent to a secure detention facility immediately since they might be planning on using their knowledge to construct a bomb.
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt Richard Buckner -
>>I believe they use Cell Phones to set off explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan ?
- Correct. A cell can be used as a trigger or to prime a primary trigger.
>>And isn't the main part of a bomb the timer. Is'nt another type of timer is a clock ?
- Wrong. The main parts are the primer, the explosive and the trigger mechanism. You could have a timer attached to the primer (as the trigger), but usually not on a battlefield no matter what Hollywood try to tell us. Usually what sets, it off is a manual trigger either by the terrorist or the victim. But to call a timer "the main part" is incorrect, since there absolutely is not necessary to have a timer.
You know this. I mean, after all you are an Engineer Sgt Buckner.
>>I believe they use Cell Phones to set off explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan ?
- Correct. A cell can be used as a trigger or to prime a primary trigger.
>>And isn't the main part of a bomb the timer. Is'nt another type of timer is a clock ?
- Wrong. The main parts are the primer, the explosive and the trigger mechanism. You could have a timer attached to the primer (as the trigger), but usually not on a battlefield no matter what Hollywood try to tell us. Usually what sets, it off is a manual trigger either by the terrorist or the victim. But to call a timer "the main part" is incorrect, since there absolutely is not necessary to have a timer.
You know this. I mean, after all you are an Engineer Sgt Buckner.
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COL Ted Mc
SGT (Join to see) - Sergeant; A very accurate and concise description of a "bomb" (or other explosive device) that leads me to conclude that your troops are likely to be well trained because of your educational style.
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You know SrA Edward Vong, you never cease to surprise me with that you bring to the community. This article, while a sad example of the state of this country, made me both smile and cry a little. Here is a boy, soooo excited to show his teacher what he did yet another teacher took it to a level that it probably didn't need to go it. Sure, I'm glad that the teacher did what she felt was needed to keep her and the other children safe, but lets face it, I doubt it looked anything like the picture above. I fear this is a result of people not seeing beyond their personal blinders and not seeking proper education before taking action. I'm not saying the boy carrys no fault. Even the other teacher was concerned that others might view his craft as something it wasn't. Maybe the boy should have told his teacher first and they could have set a time up after school so he wasn't stuck with the clock in his bag in other classes. Maybe the teacher, understanding that others might view the clock as something it wasn't, should have offered to hold onto the clock until the end of day. Either way, I hope the kid keeps exploring and learning. This doesn't need to turn into an other misleading example on how everyone with the name of Ahmed is bad.
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In today's world I would think anyone carrying this clock in a school would be arrested until the facts are known. Is it right? Probably not. But, what would the cost be if it were not a clock?
People need to realize that jokes about guns or explosives in schools are no longer jokes.
People need to realize that jokes about guns or explosives in schools are no longer jokes.
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Capt (Join to see)
Lt Col (Join to see) - And the fact (if it is a fact) that he did not joke that it is a bomb proves what?
If what he brought to school could be seen as a possible bomb then people took the right action.
If what he brought to school could be seen as a possible bomb then people took the right action.
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Capt (Join to see)
COL Ted Mc - Obviously I was refereeing to the picture posted in the RP post. I am on vacation and basically have not seen news reports.
I agree that the picture you provided is less like a bomb. Whether is could be logically be believed to be a bomb is less likely.
I agree that the picture you provided is less like a bomb. Whether is could be logically be believed to be a bomb is less likely.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Capt (Join to see) - Clearly not...no evacuation, no bomb squad response, no precaution whatsoever to protect the other kids...just putting this kid in the principal's office, and keeping the device in the building with the students.
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COL Ted Mc
Capt (Join to see) - Captain; I have absolutely no idea.
The one in my post is the official picture released by the police department but they are probably lying through their teeth just to make the White Christians who run the school look bad.
After all, did you see the color of the police officer in the background when Ahmed was arrested? Wasn't he the same color as the so-called "President" of the United States of America? Isn't the so-called "President" of the United States of America a covert agent for the International Muslim/Commie Conspiracy (which is actually a front for the International Jewish Conspiracy that is run by the Bilderburgs out of their secret UFO base in Zurich and through the Knights Templar secret Rosicrucian chapter of the Freemasons)?
On the other hand, there is absolutely no doubt that it could "illogically" be "confused" with a "bomb".
The one in my post is the official picture released by the police department but they are probably lying through their teeth just to make the White Christians who run the school look bad.
After all, did you see the color of the police officer in the background when Ahmed was arrested? Wasn't he the same color as the so-called "President" of the United States of America? Isn't the so-called "President" of the United States of America a covert agent for the International Muslim/Commie Conspiracy (which is actually a front for the International Jewish Conspiracy that is run by the Bilderburgs out of their secret UFO base in Zurich and through the Knights Templar secret Rosicrucian chapter of the Freemasons)?
On the other hand, there is absolutely no doubt that it could "illogically" be "confused" with a "bomb".
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